Hand tool for crimping connectors



12, 957 M. L. KLINGLER 2,784,621

HAND ToorJ FOR CNIMPING coNNEcToRs Filed oct. s1, 1951 5 sheets-sheet 2da) Wma'cf ATTOR EYS.

R E L G m L K L. M.

HAND TOOL FOR CRIMPING CONNECTORSA 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 31, 1951kY INVENTOR.' Mew/V /A/6 E@ Tlc'l.

aan, was? v ATTORN 5.'

l2, 1957 M. l.. KLINGLER 2384,21

HAND TOOL FOR ORIMPING CONNECTORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 3l, 1951ad@ MSW A TTORNE YS Mach 12, 1957 M. L. KLINGLER 2,784,621

HAND TOOL FOR CRIMPING CONNECTORS Filed oct. s1. 1951 5 sneetsheet sHAND TooL Fon CnnvmNG coNNncrons Martin L. Klingler, Hershey, Pa.,assigner to Aircraft- Marine Products, Inc., Harrisburg, Pa., acorporation of New Jersey Application October 3l, 1951, Serial No.254,1i7

1,0 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) This invention relates to hand tools forcrimping electrical connectors of the type used for joining the ends ofelectrical conductors to provide an electrically conductive jointtherebetween. Hand tools embodying the present invention can be used ina Variety of different ways to crimp many ditferent types of connectors.However, the utility ofthe present hand tool can be most convenientlypointed out by selecting a specific illustrative application for whichit is especially useful and describing this application in some detail.Accordingly the tool will be initially described in relation to its usefor effecting electrical connections between the blasting wires andfiring wires of a demolition circuit.

In many electrical wiring operations, it is necessary to make a largenumber of electrical connections between wire ends. It is thus desirableto have for such work a relatively simple and certain method of and toolfor making electrical connections between wires in the eld. Moreover, itis desirable that the method of connection used be operative to el'ect agood electrical connection between the wires under extreme environmentalconditions, such as, for example, at sub-zero temperatures, or in moistground, or even under water. Also the mode of connection used should besuch as to provide the desired electrically conductive joint betweenwires of different sizes.

A sleeve-type connector, suitable for use in electing such awater-resistant, electrically conductive joint is described in thecopending application of George T. Ritter, Serial No. 242,850, filedAugust 21, 1951, and is illustrated in Fig. 2l of the drawings of thepresent application. To effect a joint between two conductors with thistype of connector the insulation is stripped from the ends of theconductors to predetermined dis tances that are proportioned to the wiresizes of the conductors, and the stripped ends are then inserted intothe sleeve connector until they are in substantially abutting relationwithin the. connector. Thereafter the connector is crimped with asuitable tool at four points to provide the joint illustrated in Fig.2l. Referring to Fig. 2l, the two center crimps 10 engage the strippedends of the wire to provide an electrical connection therebetween andthe two end crimps 12 engage the insulation of the conductors to providea water-tight joint.

ln cases Where telephone, telegraph or demolition wiring is to beinstalled or repaired at low temperatures, as for example such as occurin Arctic and subarctic regions, it is necessary for the operator towear heavy gloves or mittens, and it is desirable that the tool or toolsprovided for effecting the electrical connection between the conductorsbe so constructed that the operator can carry out all of the necessarysteps without removing his gloves. These steps include measuring thelength of insulation to be removed from the end of each conductor, whichlength, as previously indicated depends upon the wire size ofthe'conductor; stripping this predetermined length of insulation fromthe conductor; selecting an uncrimped connector from a supply ofconnectors and moving it to crimping position; inserting the strippedends of the conductors into the connector; holdingV the conductor endsin proper position within the connector until crimping is completed; andcrimpingKV the connector to eHect the desired electrically conductive,water-tight joint between the conductors.

It is an object of the invention, to provide a hand tool adapted to beused in'performing the foregoing operations. It is another object of theinvention to provide a hand tool so constructed that an operator canperform all of these operations therewith without removing his gloves.It is another object of the invention to provide a hand tool of thistype that includes a supply of connectors to be crimped and provides forpositioning of the connectors to receive the wires to be joined. It is astill further object of the invention to provide a hand tool of thistype that is light in weight and can be readily used in relativelyinaccessible locations. Other objects of the invention will be iin partVobvious and in part pointed out hereafter.

The many objects and advantages of the present invention can best beunderstood and appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate a hand tool incorporating a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention and a modication thereof.`

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the hand tool showing its generalorganization;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the crimping head of theconnector with a portion of the connector supply magazine broken away toshow the connection of the handle to the crimping head;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the crimping head with thetop portion thereof removed to reveal the reciprocable plunger and thefour crimping dies formed on the leadingend of the plunger;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and showingin side elevation the reciprocable plunger, one of the crimping diesassociated therewith and one of the ejector arms for ejecting a crimpedconnector from the tool;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view taken approximately along the line 5-.-5 ofFig. 3 and particularly showing the four crimping molds of the crimpinghead and the relation of the ejector arms thereto;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the magazine or clip for' containing thesupply of connectors to be crimped;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the connector-retaining spring of theconnector magazine; v

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the magazine showing the actuating spring thaturges the connectors toward the discharge end of the magazine;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the magazine partially broken away to showfurther the relationship between the actuating spring and theconnectors;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged discharge end view of the magazine of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a vertical section through the crimping head, showingparticularly the manner in which connectors are fed from the magazine tothe crimping elements of the tool;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation of the insulation cutter of thetool;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. l2 andshowing the manner in which the knife elements of the insulation cuttercooperate to cut the insulation of a conductor and also. the manner inwhich the conductor is positioned to cause a predetermined length ofinsulation to be cut;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line 14.-14 of Fig. 12 andshowing the manner in which the upper knife element of the insulationcutter engages the lower 3 knife element to provide proper relativepositioning of these parts;

Fig. is a perspective view of the wire-positioning abutment of theinsulation cutter showing a pair of guide surfaces for positioning theends of conductors of different sizes to insure cutting of the properlength of insulation;

Fig. 16 is `a perspective view of the crimping head showing, in theforeground, one of the wire holders;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section taken on the line 17-17 of Fig. 1, thatis, substantially at the center of one of the wire holders and showingthe wire-holding plunger together with its actuating spring and latchmechanism;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side elevation of the crimping head broken awayto provide a side view of the wire-holding plunger;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the latch spring of the wire holder;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the manual operating member of the wireholder;

Fig. 21, as previously pointed out, is a perspective view of a connectorcrimped with the tool of Figs. l to 20;

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of a modied form of crimping head;

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the crimping head of Fig. 2 with themagazine shown in section;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23. but with the plunger withdrawn toshow the manner in which connectors are fed to the crimping elements ofthe head.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, thehand tool there shown comprises a crimping lhead generally designated14, within which a plunger 16 is mounted for reciprocation in thedirection indicated Reciprocation of plunger 16 by the arrows in Fig. 3.within head 14 is effected by means of a pair of handles 18 and 20 thatare pivotally secured to the head 14 by the links 22 and 24 respectivelyand pivotally connected to each other and to the plunger 16 by a pin 26.The mode of connection of handles 18 and 2t) to head 14 and plunger 16is further shown in Figs. 11 `and 16 of the drawings. The constructionis such that as the handles 18 and 20 are brought together, the plunger16 is advanced by a toggle action toward the right (assuming that theparts are viewed as shown in Figs. l to 3) 'and as the handles areseparated the plunger is withdrawn to the left. The handles 18 and 20are provided with a ratchet and ratchet-release mechanism 28 of the typeshown in Carlson Patent No. 2,618,993. The mechanism 28 operates tomaintain the handles, as they are brought together, in any position towhich they have been pressed and prevents separation of the handlesuntil the mechanism has been fully actuated.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, the plunger 16 is provided atits leading end with four crimping dies 30, 32, 34 and 36 thatcooperate, when the plunger` is advanced by bringing together handles 18and 20, with four crimping molds 38, 40, 42 and 44 respectively formedin the lcrimping head 14 to crimp a connector that is positioned betweenthe dies and molds. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the plunger is alsoprovided with a pair of ejectors 46 and 48. The ejector 46 is arrangedto slide between the molds 38 and 40 as the plunger reciprocates and isprovided at its free end with an upwardly extending arm 50. The ejector48 is positioned for sliding movement between the molds 42 and 44 and isprovided at its free end with an upwardly eX- tending arm 52. Theconstruction is such that as the plunger 16 is retracted after crimpinga connector, the arms 50 and 52 of ejectors 46 and 48 disengage thecrimped connector from molds 38 to 44.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 11, mounted on the head 14 there is amagazine receiver 54 .adapted to receive a magazine or clip 56containing a supply of connectors to be crimped. The receiver 54 can b@secured to `head 14 in any suitable manner such as by means of the screw58. At its lower end receiver 54 is provided with a downwardly extendinglip 60 that serves to guide uncrimped connectors from the discharge endof the magazine downwardly to a position in front of the plunger 16 whenthe plunger is in its retracted position.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 10, the magazine 56 comprises a casing 62having a longitudinal slot 64 formed therein. The upper surface ofcasing 62 is provided with a pair of small bosses 66 that are adapted toengage corresponding recesses formed in the inner surfaces of receiverS4 to insure proper positioning of the magazine in the receiver. Withinthe casing 62 there is an actuating spring 68 which, as particularlyshown in Fig. 9, engages an adapter 70 and causes it to bear against arow of connectors 72 to urge them toward the discharge end of thecasing. In order to prevent connectors from being discharged frommagazine 56 before the magazine has been inserted in receiver 54, aretaining spring 74 is provided, the configuration of Vwhich is bestshown in Fig. 7. The spring 74 comprises a pair of arms 76 that embracethe casing 62 and a pair of arms 78 that extend upwardly in front of thedischarge end of the casing and prevent connectors from being dischargedtherefrom until the magazine has been inserted in receiver 54. Spring 74also includes an arm 80 having a downwardly extending lip 82. When themagazine is inserted in the receiver, lip 82 engages the upper edge ofthe receiver and as the magazine is forced into the receiver the casing62 slides with respect to spring 74, thereby causing arms 78 to beretracted from in front of the discharge end of the casing.

Reverting to Fig. l1, if the plunger is in its retracted position whenthe magazine is inserted in the receiver, the rst connector from themagazine will drop down in front of the plunger in position to be movedforwardly by the advancing movement of the plunger and crimped. If, onthe other hand, the plunger is in its advanced position when themagazine is inserted, the first connector of the series will drop downon top of the plunger and when the plunger is retracted,will movefurther downward to a position in front of the plunger. lt will be notedthat the magazine 56 'and receiver 54 are arranged at a relatively sharpangle with respect to the horizontal in orde-r to make sure that onlyone connector at a time is positioned in front of plunger 16.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to l5 of the drawings, the head 14 is providedwith an insulation cutter generally designated 90, and comprising awire-positioning block or abutment 92, secured to the head 14 in anysuitable manner such as by the screws 94 (only one of which is v shown);a lower knife element 96 secured to block 92 by the screws 9S; and anupper knife element 100 pivotally secured to the lower knife element bymeans of a rivet 102. As best shown in Fig. 1, the upper knife element100 is provided with a finger piece 104, by means of which the upperelement can be manually forced downwardly against the lower knifeelement.

As particularly shown in Fig. 12, Ythe upper elem-ent 100 has at itslower edge a semi-circular knife edge 106 formed therein and a secondsemi-circular knife edge 103 that is somewhat smaller than the knifeedge 106. The knife edges 166 and 103 cooperate with corerspondingsemi-circular knife edges and 112 respectively formed in the lower knifeelement 96 to define circular openings having substantially thediameters of the conductors from which the insulation is to be cut. Theposition of the knife elements and knife edges when cutting theinsulation of a conductor is particularly illustrated in Fig. 13.

As disclosed in the co-pending Ritter application Serial No. 242,850,referred to above, it is desirable where conductors of different sizesare to be joined that a relatively shorter length yof insulation bestripped from the smaller conductor so that when the conductors areinerted in the connector a satisfactory water-tight seal can be achievedbetween the connector and the insulation of the conductor. Automaticdetermination of the proper length of insulation to be severed isachieved in the present structure by means of the wire-positioning block92. As best shown in Fig. l5, the block 92 is provided with spacedwire-positioning surfaces 114 and 116. The positioning surface 116 islocated closer to the knife element than is surface 114 and is alsopositioned in registry with the opening defined by knife edges 1138 and112. The positioning surface 114 is located in registry with the openingdefined by knife edges 106 and 110. Thus block 92 cooperates with knifeelements 96 and 100 to ensure that the proper length of insulation willbe cut from the conductor, based on the size of the conductor from whichthe insulation is to be stripped.

in order to ensure proper relative positioning of the knife edges of theupper and lower knife elements respectively the upper element as. shownin Fig. 14 is forked to provide arms 118 that embrace the lower element96 as the knife edges are brought together. ln this way proper alignmentof the knife edges to produce the desired cutting Iaction is ensured. Inoperation the upper knife element 168 is raised by means of finger piece104, the conductor to be stripped is inserted until its end abuts one ofthe surfaces 114 and 116 and the upper element 100 is then presseddownwardly to sever the insulation. Thereafter, with the upper knifeelement depressed, the conductor is manually withdrawn from the wirecutter whereupon the severed length of insulation is detached from theconductor.

"in using the present hand tool it is usually desirable to strip thewires and insert them in the connector in se quence and accordinglymeans are provided for holding one wire in crimping position within theconnector while a second wire is being stripped. Referring particularlyto Figs. 16 to 20 of the drawings, the crimping head 14 is provided witha wire holder generally designated 120 and comprising a block 122secured to the head 14 by means of the screws 124. A second wire holder126 (see Fig. 2) is provided on the other side of head 14. Since thewire holders are of similar construction, only one need be described indetail.

Referring particularly to Fig. 17, mounted for reciprocating movement ina channel formed in block 122 there is a wire-holding finger 128 havingat its left end a rodlike extension 130 and at its right end a curvedhead 132 adapted to bear against a wire that has been inserted in theconnector and hold it against a portion of head 14 as best shown in Fig.16. The rod-like extension 130 of finger 128 extends into a spring 134located in channel 127 and normally biased to urge finger 128 to theright. Threaded into the side of finger 128 there is a screw 136, theinner end 138 of which is of reduced diameter and extends into a recess140 formed in the side of plunger 16. The construction is such that asthe plunger 16 is withdrawn, an end Wall of recess 140 engages inner end138 of screw 136, thus causing the wire-holding finger 128 to beretracted with the plunger 16. As the finger 128 completes itsretractive movement it is latched in retracted position by a manuallyreleasable latch that will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 17 and 19, a leaf spring 142 is securedat its left end to the block 122 by a screw 144. The spring 142, nearits right end, is provided with a slot 146 through which the screw 136passes, and the spring is normally biased in such manner as to bearagainst the head of screw 136. Approximately mid-way between the ends ofslot 146, and at the sides of the slot there are a pair of projections148. As the plunger 16 is retracted, wire-holding finger 128 is alsoretracted and the head of screw 136 passes over projections 148, afterwhich the spring and projections move outwardly in such manner as tolatch the screw and associated wire-holding finger in retractedposition. The spring 142 can be pressed inward manually to release thewire-holding finger for advancing movement under the inuence of spring134, provided that the plunger 16 has been sufficiently advanced topermit advancing movement of the inner end 138 of screw 136.

It is sometimes desirable to readjust one of the wires after it has beeninserted in the conductor and before the connector has been crimped. Tofacilitate such adjustment, the wire-holding finger is provided withmanual means whereby it can be retracted. Referring to Figs. 17 and 20,this manual means consists of a plate 150 secured to the finger 128 atthe inner side thereof and having a hole 152 through which the inner end13S of screw 136 extends. Plate 150 is also provided with an outwardlyextending tab 154 that can be manually pressed to retract thewire-holding finger.

The operation of the present hand tool should be largely apparent fromthe foregoing description. In using the tool a magazine 56 is insertedin the receiver S4. The handles 18 and 20 are then separated to retractthe plunger and permit a connector from the magazine to drop in front ofthe plunger. Thereafter handles 18 and 20 are pressed together with arelatively light pressure to move the uncrimped connector against themolds 3S to 44,- the pressure initially exerted being insufficient tocrimp the connector. Thereafter the conductors are inserted in theinsulation cutter as previously described, the upper knife element 168pressed downwardly to sever the insulation and rthe conductors pulledoutwardly to detach the severed insulation from the end of theconductor. The stripped ends of the conductors are then inserted in ltheconnector until their ends substantially abut one another within theconnector. Thereupon the wire-holding fingers are released to hold thewires in proper position within the connector and the handles 1S and 20are pressed together with a force sufficient to effect desired crimpingof the connector between the dies 30 to 36 and molds 38 to 44. Theresulting crimped joint is illustrated in Fig. 2l as previouslydescribed.

Figs. 22 to 24 illustrate a simplified form of fthe crimping toolpreviously described wherein the wire holder and insulation cutter areomitted and a different type of magazine is provided for storage of theuncrimped connectors. Referring to Figs, 23 and 24, the magazine 56 andreceiver 54 previously described are replaced by a single storagechamber 160, which is secured Ito the crimping head by a screw 162 andprovided internally with an actuating spring 164 that urges an adapter166 against a line of uncrimped connectors. Secured to the top ofchamber there is a feedspring 168 that has a curved lower end adaptedto, bear against `the top of the crimping plunger when it is in itsadvanced position. Feed spring 168 is also provided with aconnector-retaining finger 172 that extends through a slot 174 in theupper wall of chamber 160 and is adapted to be moved into the path ofthe connectors discharged from the chamber. As shown particularly inFig. 24, when the crimping plunger is withdrawn, curved end 178 of feedspring 168 drops down into the path of the piunger thus permittingretaining finger 172 to move between the first two uncrimped connectorsin the storage chamber 16d. As the crimping plunger continues to beretracted, the leading connector drops down in front of the plunger asshown in Fig. 24 and the remaining connectors are held back by finger172.

Upon advancing movement of the crimping plunger, the dischargedconnector is moved forward toward the crimping molds and as an incidentof this advancing movement of the plunger the curved end 171i" of feedspring 168 is moved upwardly by the plunger, thus withdrawing finger 172from in front of the line of connectors and permitting another connectorto drop down on top of the crimping plunger as shown in Fig. 2,3, In

7 other respects the operation of the hand tool of Figs. 22 to 24 isessentially similar to that of the hand tool of Figs. l to 20.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent that the presentinvention provides a hand tool capable of achieving the several objectsoutlined at the beginning of the specification. Thus the hand tool canbe made relatively light in weight and readily portable. Additionalclips of connectors can be inserted as desired to provide connectors formaking a large number of conductive joints. The insulation cutter, wireholders, plunger actuating means and connector storage are all soconstructed as to permit an operator wearing heavy gloves or mittens tooperate them without removing his gloves. The toggle connection betweenthe handles 18 and 20 and the crimping plunger provides heavy crimpingpressure with a relatively light force exerted on the handle.

I claim:

l. In a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein including an inner pair ot molds and an outer pair ofmolds; a plunger movably mounted in said head and having a plurality ofcrimping dies, each of which is aligned with one of said molds wherebyit moves with said plunger toward and away from the mold with which itis aligned to crimp a connector placed between said dies and molds; apair of handles pivotally connected to each other and to said plungerand a pair of links connected to said head and to said two handlesrespectively at points spaced from the pivotal connection of said handleto said plunger, whereby said handles are manually operable to move saidplunger in said head; and a pair of ejectors secured to said plunger,one of said ejectors being located between each of said inner molds andits adjacent outer mold, said ejectors being retractable with saidplunger to eject a crimped connector from said mold upon retraction ofsaid plunger from said molds.

2. In a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of crimping moldstherein including an inner pair of molds and an outer pair of molds; aplunger mounted for reciprocating movement in said head and having aplurality of crimping dies, each of which is aligned with one of saidmolds whereby it moves with said plunger toward and away from the moldwith which it is aligned to crimp a connector placed between said diesand molds; a pair of handles pivotally connected to each other and tosaid plunger and a pair of links connected to said head and to said twohandles respectively at points spaced from the pivotal connection ofsaid handles to said plunger, whereby said handles are manually operableto reciprocate said plunger in said head; a pair of ejectors secured tosaid plunger, each of said ejectors being slidably positioned betweenone of said inner molds and its adjacent outer mold and beingretractable with said plunger to eject a crimped connector from saidmold, and a magazine for holding a supply of connectors for crimping,said magazine being mounted on said head and having a discharge endpositioned adjacent to the path of said plunger, whereby as said plungeris retracted a connector is fed from said magazine into the path of saidplunger.

3. In a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein, a plunger movably mounted in said head and having aplurality of crimping dies, each of which is aligned with one of saidmolds whereby it moves with said plunger toward and away from the moldwith which it is aligned to crimp a connector placed between said diesand molds; a pair of handles pivotally connected to each other and tosaid plunger and a pair of links connected to said head and to said twohandles respectively at points spaced from the pivotal connection ofsaid handles to said plunger, whereby said handles are manually operableto move said Cil plunger in said head; at least one ejector secured tosaid plunger and positioned between adjacent crimping molds to eject acrimped connector from said mold upon retraction Yof said plunger fromsaid molds, and a tubular magazine housing mounted on said head betweensaid crimping molds and the retracted position of said plunger, saidhousing being constructed and arranged to receive a magazine containingconnectors to be crimped.

4. In a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein, a plunger mounted for reciprocable movement in said headand having a plurality of crimping dies, each of which is aligned withone of said molds whereby it moves with said plunger toward and awayfrom the mold with which it is aligned to crimp a connector placedbetween said dies and molds; means for moving said plunger andassociated dies toward and away from said molds, at least one ejectorsecured to said plunger and positioned between adjacent crimping moldsto eject a crimped connector from said molds upon retraction of saidplunger from said molds, a tubular magazine housing mounted on saidhead, a magazine containing a supply of connectors to be crimpedslidably positioned in said housing, said magazine having a dischargeend adjacent to the path of said plunger whereby as said plunger isretracted a connector is fed from said magazine into the path of saidplunger, and latch means for holding said magazine in operative positionwithin said housing.

5. in a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein, a plunger mounted for reciprocable movement in saidcrimping head and having a plurality of crimping dies, each of which isaligned with one of said molds whereby it moves with said plunger towardand away from the mold with which it is aligned to crimp a connectorplaced between said dies and molds; means for moving said plunger andassociated dies toward and away from said molds; a tubular housingmounted on said head between said molds and the retracted position ofsaid plunger, a magazine containing a supply of connectors to becrimped, said magazine having a discharge end positioned adjacent to thepath of said plunger and having a spring slidably mounted thereon, -saidspring having an arm covering said discharge end of said magazine and aprojection engageable by said housing as said magazine is insertedtherein to slide said spring with respect to said magazine and therebyopen the discharge end of said magazine.

6. In a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein; a crimping plunger movably mounted in said head andhaving a plurality of crimping dies, each` of which is aligned with oneof said molds whereby it moves with said plunger toward and away fromthe mold with which it is aligned to crimp a connector placed betweensaid dies and molds; means for moving said crimping plunger andassociated dies toward and away from said molds; and a wireholder forholding a wire that has been inserted in one of said connectors prior tocrimping, said wire holder comprising an abutment formed in said head, awireholding linger slidably mounted on said head, spring meansoperatively associated with said wireholding finger and biased to urgesaid finger toward said abutment, manually operable means for retractingsaid inger from said abutment, and releasable latch-means for holdingsaid finger in retracted position.

7. A crimping tool according to claim 6 and wherein said retractingmeans includes a manual member fixed to said iinger and a pin secured tosaid linger and engaging said plunger whereby said linger isautomatically retracted upon retraction of said plunger and can bemanually retracted independently of retraction of said plunger.

8. ln a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein; a crimping plunger movably mounted in said head andhaving a plurality of crimping dies, each of which is aligned with oneof said molds whereby it moves with said plunger toward and away fromthe mold with which it is aligned to crimp a connector placed between`said dies and molds; means for moving said crimping plunger andassociated dies toward and away from said molds; and a'wire-holder forholding a wire that has been inserted into one of said connectors, saidwire-holder comprsing an abutment formed in said head and a wireholdingnger reciprocably mounted in said head and spring-urged toward saidabutment, said wire-holding finger having a laterally extending manuallyoperable means whereby it may be retracted from said abutmentindependently of retraction of said plunger.

9, In a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a plurality of spaced crimping moldsformed therein, a plunger mounted for reciprocating movement in saidhead and having a plurality of crimping dies, each of which is alignedwith one of said molds whereby it moves with said plunger toward andaway from the mold with which it is aligned to crimp a connector placedbetween said dies and molds; a pair of handles pivotally connected toeach other and to said plunger and a pair of links connected to saidhead and to said two handles respectively at points spaced from thepivotal connection of said handles to said plunger, whereby said handlesare manual- 1y operable to reciprocate said plunger in said head; and atleast one ejector secured to said plunger and positioned betweenadjacent crimping molds to eject a crimped connector from said moldsupon retraction of said plunger from said molds.

10. ln a manually operable tool for crimping electrical connectors incombination, a crimping head having a crimping mold formed therein, aplunger mounted for reciprocating movement in said head and having acrimping die aligned with said crimping mold whereby it moves with saidplunger toward and away from said mold to crimp a connector placedbetween said die and mold, a pair of handles pivotally connected to eachother and to said plunger, a pair of links pivotally connected to saidhead and to said two handles respectively at points spaced from thepivotal connection of said handles to said plunger, whereby said handlesare manually operable to reciprocate said plunger in said head, andejector means secured to said plunger and spaced from said crimping diea distance greater than the diameter of the connector to eject a crimpedconnector from said mold upon retraction of said plunger from said mold.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS269,271 Dull Dec. 19, 1882 273,448 Borchardt Mar. 6, 1883 963,394Richardson July 5, 1910 1,299,303 Cowles Apr. 1, 1919 1,451,717 SommerApr. 17, 1923 1,613,715 Matson Jan. l1, 1927 1,887,732 Pagel et al. Nov.15, 1932 2,018,996 Christians Oct. 29, 1935 2,409,147 Neuhaus et al.Oct. 8, 1946 2,453,872 Stauffer Nov. 16, 1948 2,455,557 Burner Dec. 7,1948 2,565,983 Nelson Aug. 28, 1951 2,574,811 Blumensaadt Nov. 13, 1951

